The jury found Julius Henson guilty of conspiracy to distribute campaign material without an authority line. He was found not guilty of three other counts, which included charges that he influenced a voter's decision to go to the polls through fraud.

Prosecutors said the robocall that Henson sent out to voters in Baltimore City and Prince George's County was intended to keep black voters at home. The call did not have an authority line on it, as required by law.

Paul Schurick, a former campaign official for former Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich, was convicted in December on similar charges.

Despite his conviction on one of the counts, Henson said he's elated because the jury did not believe his robocalls were designed to suppress black voter as prosecutors charged.

"The most serious charge of conspiring to keep African-American voters home, I think the state's own witness showed and proved that as a result of the robocall, it motivated people to go out and vote," Henson said.

The prosecution told 11 News it was pleased with the guilty verdict but expressed disappointment about the counts on which Henson was found not guilty. State prosecutors said they still believe all the charges were appropriate.

"We thought it was the right thing to bring the case and it was right to bring the charges we did, and the jury has spoken on it and we respect their verdict," Davit said. "There was the previous verdict against Mr. Schurick and this sends a message."

In the 2010 race for governor, the Ehrlich campaign paid Henson $112,000 as a political consultant. On Election Day, Henson scribbled a robocall message on a McDonald's napkin, saying Schurick approved it and told him to leave out the authority line.

During closing arguments in Henson's trial, state prosecutors asked jurors to convict Henson on charges of fraud because the robocalls went out before the polls closed.

"People should not be tricked into foregoing their right to vote. Persuade us, sure, but the law says you can't trick me," Deputy State Prosecutor Thomas McDonough said.

Henson maintained he didn't run the show, and that he was an adviser who told the campaign the robocall must have an authority line.

"I told them the correct thing to do. They refused to do it," Henson said.

Prosecutors rejected Henson's laying the blame for the authority line on Schurick, and jurors seemed to agree. Based on Henson's reputation and experience, the jury said Henson knew better and he should have done the right thing anyway.

"You have to follow the election laws. You must follow them to the letter because we've got to make it fair," said Renee Johnson, the jury's forewoman.

Henson's lawyer had said the state's intent was to embarrass the political consultant, who argued he's being punished for choosing not to be in the club with the Democrats.

When Henson's attorney asked for a retrial on the grounds of constitutional free speech. Henson questions the conspiracy since he advised the campaign to include an authority line. The judge said the attorney could request a retrial at sentencing on June 13.

Henson said he considers the consequences of this case economic capital punishment for his business, saying it cost him millions in lost consulting fees in the 2012 election cycle. He now plans to work on a campaign opposing same-sex marriage in Maryland.

Renee Johnson, forewoman of the jury in the Julius Henson trial, says jurors felt Henson knew better and "should have done the right thing anyway."